The Capitol drinking game – which involves taking an imaginary shot every time Gov. Bill Ritter says “new energy economy” – has now extended to Senate Republicans debating tax credits.

Catch phrases to watch out for:

– We’re sticking it to the little guy.
– Article 10, Section 20.
– I took an oath to uphold the constitution.

And on, and on, and on, and on …

In case you’re wondering, Article 10, Section 20 is the section of the constitution[2] dealing with Tabor, the 1992 Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, dealing with taxation and spending. Republicans argue that removing the tax exemptions on a variety of items, from soft drinks to junk mail, without a vote of the people violates TABOR.

Speaking of violating the constitution, it’s fascinating to see some of these Republicans so worried about violating the constitution now that they’re in the minority.

Case in point: redistricting. Republicans had the majority in 2003. Not content with holding five of the state’s seven congressional seats, they rammed through a redistricting bill in the final days of the session (after assuring Democrats there would be no redistricting bill). They were warned it was unconstitutional. It later was declared unconstitutional and became known as the midnight gerrymander[3].

Republicans in the tax-credit debate have gotten to speak their minds.
Democrats struggled to be heard on the redistricting bill. Here’s just one excerpt from news stories about the redistricing battle.

On Tuesday, Rep. Frank Weddig, D-Aurora, one of the most soft-spoken members of the House, shouted and pounded the table during a State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee meeting
after committee chairman Rep. Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs,
refused to let him speak.

In that same meeting, Rep. Rosemary Marshall, D-Denver, sat in the
back of the room and heckled the Republican majority, shouting, “This is outrageous!”

Cadman pounded the gavel and threatened to have her thrown out of the room.

The tension was so thick during the committee meeting that the
clerk wept as she took the roll call of members’ votes. Three Democrats on the committee refused to vote in protest. Democrats say Republicans have been abusing the process to an unprecedented degree to limit debate and shove their bill through, ratcheting up tensions to levels higher than anyone at the Capitol can remember.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” said Weddig, who is serving
his ninth year in the legislature. “This is a complete breakdown
of the process, bordering on the disgraceful.”